Everyone has one: those big moments when the music kicks in and a classic movie shunts into a whole new gear. The Ronettes in Mean Streets. Tears For Fears in Donnie Darko. Everybody's Talking in Midnight Cowboy. There are thousands of greats to pick from, but for Movie Music month, Team Empire were asked to pick just one. Failure to comply meant listening to the Ghostbusters Rap on repeat for eternity. Here are our picks.

"I reckon this might just be the funniest music moment in movie history, although Nick Rivers’ rendition of Tutti Frutti in Top Secret! runs it close. As Andy Samberg's stunt biker and champion bellend Rod Kimble sets off towards his date with destiny, director Akiva Schaffer stages his march to glory to the ultimate air-punching ‘80s power ballad: John Farnham’s You’re The Voice (sample lyric: “We’re not gonna sit in silence/We’re not gonna live with fear/WHOOOOOOAAA-A-WHOA-A-WHOA-A-WHOA”). And, as with much in Hot Rod, it accompanies a pitch-perfect parody of ‘80s movie montages… and then it all goes to hell, as Rod’s victory march turns into a riot. When the revolution comes – and it will come – this will be the song that plays in all our hearts. As a great man once said, cool beans."

Agree with the Wes Anderson overlook. The scene that always touches me is when Ritchie in Royal Tennenbaums shaves and slits his wrists to the tune of Needle in the Hay by Eliot Smith, all the more poignant by the fact that Smith took his own life. Dark but beautifully done. More

Posted by spaniel on Friday June 7, 2013, 10:49

2

The Man Who Knew Too Much

The whole film really. music is a key device and motif from the mirroring of concerts of the 10 minute silent Albert hall sequence (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpG5ZC06KqA) to the embassy of QueSera Sera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVuEC3r7a-o) to save a child. More

I know its all personal taste but how can you not have a single musical moment from any Wes Anderson film?? The man uses music to greater effect than any other Director. I mean just think of Paltrow getting off the bus in The Royal Tenenbaums, or the final scene in Rushmore...I could go on. Brilliant More

For me, Citizen Cope's "Sideways" in the Ricky Gervais movie Ghost Town was just gorgeous. It was so sad and told a lovely story. These feelings wont go away, they've been knocking me sideways.... OK, the movie wasn't the greatest ever but this song was a brilliant musical moment. Check it out. More

Posted by JohnnyG1960 on Tuesday May 28, 2013, 11:14

7

RE: Bittersweet symphony

L: kermit.t
one of my faves is bittersweet symphony at the end of Cruel intentions, and where's Mrs Robinson from the gradudate?
Bittersweet Symphony! Hands down the most memorable for me. More

Posted by photonshot on Sunday May 26, 2013, 05:55

8

Bittersweet symphony

one of my faves is bittersweet symphony at the end of Cruel intentions, and where's Mrs Robinson from the gradudate? More

Posted by kermit.t on Friday May 24, 2013, 10:53

9

You dropped the ball with no Tiny Dancer from Almost Famous

Damn good list, especially Up, but that scene on the bus in practically perfect in every way :)
In fact it is so good, I have just rewatched it. And here it is again, in all it's glory,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHH3FoJUEbg More

Posted by Teamwak on Thursday May 23, 2013, 19:45

10

Ladysmith Black Mambazo vs Treorchy Male Voice Choir

"They've a fine bass section mind, but no top tenors, that's for sure."
When Men of Harlech rises from the besieged garrison in Zulu, you don't even need to be Welsh to feel your heartstrings being tugged More

Posted by cateranfan on Thursday May 23, 2013, 16:05

11

hmmm

Not sure about the lucky star one....not really a standout musical moment in film.history for me, i really like the moment in stranger than fiction when will ferell plays whole wide world by wreckless eric
More

Posted by sangypange on Wednesday May 22, 2013, 23:31

12

One-Hit Wonder?

Some great choices there, but I must question the comments to The Big Lebowski - "one of the catchiest one-hit-wonders ever recorded" Kenny Rogers, a one-hit wonder? You sure about that Ali? More

Some good choices, another few I would have..
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: Ce Ce Peniston - Finally
Layer Cake: The Source feat. Candi Staton - You Got The Love
Ferris Bueller: The Beat - March of the Swivelheads
Inception: Edith Piaf - Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien
Every musical piece in Goodfellas, The Blues Brothers, The Shining More